Analysis of Indoor Radon Distribution Within a Room By Means of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulation

Radon gas is recognized by international organizations such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) as the main contributor of radiation environmental to which human beings are exposed. Therefore, the evaluation of indoor radon concentration is a matter of public interest. The emanation and the income of the gas inside a room will generate a negative impact on the quality of the air when the place is not properly ventilated. Understanding how this gas will be distributed inside the room will allow to predict the spatial and temporal variations of radon levels and identify these parameters will provide important information that researchers can be used for calculate radiation dose exposure. Consequently, this studies can prevent a health risk for the people that live or work within the room. Currently, several researchers use the technique called Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to simulate the distribution of gas radon, making use of the various commercial programs that exist in the market. In this work, three simulations were developed in rooms that have a similar geometry but different dimensions, in order to observe how the gas is distributed inside a closed space and to analyze how this distribution varies when the volume of the place is increased. The results show that as the volume of the site increases the radon is mitigated more rapidly and therefore has lower levels of concentration of this gas, as long as the level of radon emanation is kept constant

Thermoluminescent Characteristics of Li2B4O7 Doped with Mn2+ and Eu3+ Ions

Analysis of thermoluminescent properties were made for two samples; Li2B4O7, Li2B4O7:Mn2+:Eu3+. These samples were prepared by melt quenching method. The glow curves of the samples show two broad peaks at 160º C and 245 ºC, and a high peak at 130ºC for Li2B4O7 doped. The response of the materials were analyzed according to the doses (0.2-80 Gy), fading (0-72 hours) and reproducibility of the experiment (10 times). To determine how the glow curve is formed, thermal bleaching for a dose of 5 Gy were made from room temperature to 300º C. Besides, X-ray diffraction patterns were recorded to identify the structure and grain size of the samples

Synthesis and TL Characterization of Li2B4O7 Doped with Cooper and Manganese

Copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) doped tissue equivalent Li2B4O7 were prepared by solid state sintering. The glow curves shows a high temperature peak at 222 °C for Li2B4O7:Cu and for Li2B4O7:Mn at 218 °C. Linear dose response is observed up to 140 Gy. With a thermal treatment at 125 °C, the first peak of the phosphors doped with copper (95 °C) and manganese (90 °C) disappears and the main TL peaks remain isolated. The dose rate dependence was studied by exposing the samples at doses of 25 Gy and 250 Gy. At low dose it was observed that the Li2B4O7:Cu TL response has non-dependence on dose rate, and at higher dose was observed that there is a dependence of the TL response with the different dose rateFil: Guarneros Aguilar, C.. Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Facultad de Ciencias Físico-Matemáticas. Posgrado en Física Aplicada; MéxicoFil: Cruz Zaragoza, E.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares. Unidad de Irradiación y Seguridad Radiológica; MicronesiaFil: Marcazzo, Salvador Julian. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Bs.as.. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Fisica Arroyo Seco; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Palomino Merino, R.. Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Facultad de Ciencias Físico-Matemáticas. Posgrado en Física Aplicada; MéxicoFil: Espinosa, J.. Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Facultad de Ciencias Físico-Matemáticas. Posgrado en Física Aplicada; Méxic

Optimization of the Position of the CR-39 Polycarbonate Sheet Inside the Solid State Track Detector “Measuring Device” Through Computational Fluid Dynamics Technique

The “measuring device” is one of the most reliable, efficient and economic indoor radon dosimeters that exist. This device was developed by the Proyecto de Aplicaciones de la Dosimetría (PAD) at the Physics Institute of UNAM (IF-UNAM) and consists of a transparent rigid plastic cup, a CR-39 polycarbonate sheet and a standard size metal clip that is used to hold the polycarbonate in the center of the cup. The cup is wrapped and covered with a low-density polyurethane protector in order to prevent the detector from being irradiated by ionizing particles found in the environment. In this work, an analysis was carried out that allowed to understand how the radon concentration on the polycarbonate sheet varies when its height is changed with respect to the base of the plastic cup, in order to understand what position increase the probability of interaction between radon and the surface of the detector. For the development of this work, four computational simulations were performed with the technique called Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The results shows that as the CR-39 is positioned more closed to the base of the cup, the probability of interaction of the radon and the detector increase. Based on these results it is concluded that, when there is a limit in the time in which a measuring device can be placed in the zone where it is desired to quantify indoor radon, it is recommended to collocated the CR-39 at 1 cm with respect to the base of the cup

Analysis and characterization of neutron scattering of a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) on medical applications.

In several theoretical and experimental studies, the topic of the undesirable generation of photoneutrons in rooms where a linear accelerator (LINAC) operates has been discussed. When energies above 10 MeV are used to produce X-rays and give radiotherapy treatment to patients resulting in additional radiation to patients. Accordingly, an analysis and characterization of the neutron scattering distribution on different zones in a treatment room contributes to evaluate the radiological health risk to patients, technical and other workers involved in treatment. For the evaluation, a device developed at the PAD-IFUNAM formed by a CR-39 detector enclosed by two 3mm thick acrylic plates was employed. To avoid environmental contamination, the CR-39 and the acrylics plates are enclosed in a round plastic box. Sixteen of these devices were settled in different places inside the treatment room, where a linear accelerator is used. The results show a significant concentration of neutron scattering in areas near the head of irradiation. The recommendation will be to evaluate the neutron scattering concentration in all rooms that’s operates a LINAC in order to verify the radiological health risk and to mitigate the neutron scattering when concentration levels are to high like those in our case, in order to avoid unnecessary exposition to patients and personnel in general

Proposal of a Novel Setup for Linac Monitoring Using a Specifically Designed Plastic Scintillator and a Spectrophotometer

In this work we report the design, implementation and results of an alternative monitoring system for a linear accelerator (LINAC) used in medical therapy. The system proposed consist in aslab of scintillator plastic with awavelength shifter fiberoptically coupled to collect the light generated,and a Spectrophotometer Ocean Optics USB4000 as analyzer. The control was made with two computers, one into the therapy room and another, using a VNC (Virtual Network Computer) and Ethernet wire, outside of the room in order to avoid radiation exposure. The LINAC dose range covered was 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 Monitor Units (MU) with 6 and 18 MeV energy photons. The spectrum obtained was compared with the measures of the LINAC ionization camera used to calibrate it. The results obtained allowus to propose this device as an alternative method to monitor the LINAC performance

The Indoor Radon Concentration within the Tunnels of the Cholula Pyramid Through a Nuclear Tracks Methodology

Global organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (US-EPA) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) recognize that radon gas as one of the main contributors to environmental radiation exposure for humans. Accordingly, a study and analysis of the indoors radon concentrate in the Cholula Pyramid contributes to understand the Radon dynamic inside of the Pyramid tunnels and to evaluate the radiological health risk to visitors, archaeologists, anthropologists and persons who spend extended periods inside the Pyramid. In this paper, the radon measurements along the Pyramid tunnels are presented. The Nuclear Track Methodology (NTM) was chosen for the measurements, using a close end-cup device developed at the Dosimetry Application Project (DAP) of the Physics Institute UNAM, following very well established protocols for the chemical etching and reading with the Counting Analysis Digital Imaging System (CADIS). The Cholula Pyramid consists of eight stages of constructions, each built in different periods of time. Cholula Pyramid is recognized as the pyramid with the largest base in the World, with 400 meters per side and 65 meters high. The tunnels of the pyramid were built in 1931 by architect Ignacio Marquina, with the aim of exploring and studying the structure. The results show an important indoor radon concentration in the measured tunnels, several times higher than levels recommended by United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA). The recommendation will be to mitigate the radon concentration levels, in order to avoid unnecessary exposition to the people

Characterizing a Mini Gamma Detector

There are several types of gamma radiation detectors, which have different characteristics depending on its use. We designed and instrumented a gamma detector for low energies of a small and portable size to obtain spectrum from radioactive sources and from that analyze each spectrum. This instrument basically consists of a scintillator crystal coupled to a SiPM this in turn coupled to a PCB card designed with capacitors and resistors for a better signal, a voltage source of 29 volts. For signal acquisition the system must be connected to an oscilloscope this in turn is controlled by a script developed in Python. For the calibration radioactive isotopes with the same dimensions were used, caesium-137 (Cs-137), cobalto-60 (Co-60), sodium-22 (Na-22) and manganese-54 (Mn-54) as gamma ray emission

Analysis of the Energy Deposit in the Air by Radiation of Alpha Particles Emitted by the Water of a Spring Through the Geant4 Software

This work presents the development of an analysis of the potential radiological risk generated by alpha particles emitted by radon-222, content in a spring water, for the population that usually swims in the place and for the people who live near this spring. This spring is located in the state of Puebla. Several measurements in the water of this place by researchers from IF-UNAM showed that it contains an average radon concentration level of 70 Bq/m3. To evaluate this radiological risk, it has been developed a computational simulation to know the area and the height where the alpha particles deposit their energy to the medium, as well as the amount of energy that they transfer. This simulation was developed in the Geant4 scientific software and the calculations were executed in the supercomputer of the Laboratorio Nacional de Supercomputo del Sureste de Mexico of the BUAP. The results show that the energy deposit occurs within the superficial limits of the spring, between 7 and 8 meters high. This deposited is not only by the alpha particles, but also by the secondary particles that are generated by the interaction of alpha particles with the environment. Based on these results, it is confirmed that there is no radiological risk by energy deposit by alpha particles for the people

Study of secondary muons detected within the tunnels of the Cholula pyramid

The pyramid of Cholula was built at the beginning of 100 B.C. and during of period of 500 years it was finished, had several new constructions, based on the previous constructions. The primarily material of construction is the adobe. Early in 1931 archaeological excavations began with the intention of exploring the interior of the pyramid, excavations were stopped in 1971, and to date no further excavations have been carried out. This work shows the first measurements of muons, particles that are very penetrating, these are generated by primary cosmic rays that was incoming in the atmosphere and these generates a rain of secondary particles, among them the muons. To measure this kind of particles was implemented a detector system, it is formed by a scintillator plastic coupled to a tube photomultiplier; the signals were acquired by mean of an oscilloscope. The detector was collocated near of the center of the pyramid; the location belongs to the maxima concentration in mass over the detector. Graphs of the charge distribution, maximum amplitude and characteristic rise times of the generated pulses in a plastic scintillator are shown, this is scintillator was synthesized in the materials laboratory of the FCFM-BUAP. In addition the optical characterization of the same was realized